Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Accidental Acquisition

 Last week I accidentally purchased a sewing machine. Just like I started a quilt by accident while on retreat a couple of years ago. These things happen. What can you do?!
I was innocently dropping off a donation quilt for the Mennonite Relief Sale Quilt Auction at their local office. All went well until I spotted their newly renovated thrift store.  I popped in to look around and spotted a black box. 

You know the one that makes a quilter gasp?!?
It was an item in a silent auction, so I made a bid of $150 thinking a gem like this would never be sold for that price. But guess what?!? It did!

I was beside myself with excitement, and quite a bit shocked that I accidentally bought another sewing machine!
Meet sewing machine #10 in my herd. She is a Singer 221 (aka a Featherweight).




Her serial number is EH626237 and according to the Singer website, her birthdate is 1952.
Just look at how beautiful she is!

The big question is can I get her working or is she a boat anchor?!?

36 comments:

Siouxzq64@gmail.com said...

You can get her working! You should have seen the one that we found in a barn and DH fixed.

Flickenstichlerin said...

Congratulations Kathy,
what a treasure.
Greetings,
Sylvia

Eppie Doodle said...

You certainly can ger her working! There are a lot ot people who can help you. There is a Yahoo Group who help others with their machines. This is how I learned to fix mine.

Take care.
Emily

Kate said...

Very pretty indeed! Congratulations on the newest sewing buddy. Hope you can get her humming again.

Lesley said...

Congratulations! I am sure you can get her working. I have a 64 white FW and sewed with her all week...she is a perfect size for piecing small projects. You will love her!

Needle, Thimble and Thread said...

Do you have the dvd by Dave McCallum? I recommend both his book and dvd! I have a tan and thought she would be my ONLY featherweight until I lost my heart to a black serial number AF in Shipshewana last week.

Plum Cox said...

What a lovely addition to the herd - I'm sure that you'll get this little lovely working, and be as pleased as anything when you do!

Kathy said...

I echo the comments above. What a sweet find! This machine is a favorite of mine for projects big and small. And yours is the twin of mine. Same year! Enjoy

Jill said...

Lucky you. Not a boat anchor. There are several good websites on cleaning and oiling FWs. Sometimes there is hidden lint and thread under bobbin and feeddog which can slow a FW. I have 'restored' two FWs with a careful cleaning and oiling. I can email you the websites which I found helpful.

Stitchinscience said...

How great. I inherited a centenary edition Featherweight recently. I lacked the confidence to refurbish it myself, but found a superb person in the UK who worked his magic on it. Hope you get it working soon.

Created by Kathi said...

Kathy, Congrats! My honey is a featherweight pro on rehab.. he does it as a business... so if you need any advice for fixing that sweet looking baby up please ask.. there is also a fb group for 221 enthusiasts... Enjoy! Kathi

SandraC said...

Aw, ok, now that solves the problem of what a group of sewing machines is called! A herd! lol

Unknown said...

She's beautiful. I love my featherweight which I bought on ebay. It's so nice to hear of an accident with a happy ending!

Debra said...

Congratulations! How exciting that you won! I am sure her 'sisters' will welcome her to the herd. LOL

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I can never figure out how quilters spot those little black boxes, I always have my eye out for them and never spot them and some find them kicked to the curb for the trash man and come home with a free one.

Karen said...

I was thinking that you already had a Singer Featherweight? Not there is anything wrong with having more than one. If that were true, I would have a problem for sure as I have three.

Terry said...

What a happy little accident! She's beautiful! :0)

Thelma said...

wow, what a find! I'm sure every quilter reading your blog is green with envy today! Even if you can't get that machine to work, it will make a beautiful knick knack!, a $150 knick knack!

Needled Mom said...

I'm sure you will have her humming in no time at all. She is beautiful.

Missy Shay said...

What a great price! You can get her working I'm sure!

Janet O. said...

Looks quite pristine, Kathy. What a find! I believe in you--you can do it!! : )

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

You can get her going, sure :)

Jeanna said...

Do not feel bad, accidents happen. It is how we recover from them that defines our character ;) I have a feeling you are going to do very well! Good luck getting the new / old girl going.

Kevin the Quilter said...

She looks pretty to me! I bet she will work for you! Congratulations!

Mary said...

Give her a little TLC and oil/grease and she'll be happy! Glad she got you to take her home. My herd has 11 machines in it, don't feel too bad. I still have a couple on my'Vintge machine hunt' list!

Raewyn said...

Great, surprise, purchase!! Hope you can get her sewing!

Debbie said...

How gorgeous...and I was born in 1952, also...she's a good vintage!

liniecat said...

Sometimes these accidental purchases can be the most fun!
Do hope she works because she's way too cute to be an anchor!

barbara woods said...

great find

Deanna W said...

I had one of those lucky days yesterday. I will write about it on my blog. But lucky you. Hope you can get here working...looks sparkly new!!

Tanya Quilts in CO said...

I am sure she can be put in working order! Congrats on the purchase.

Dasha said...

She is beautiful Kathy. Hope you get her working, but looking at her photos, I am sure she will be a good purchase.

Scrappy quilter said...

She is lovely. I'm on the hunt for a working one too.

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

You can get that one working. I don't have a FW in my collection (yet). Don't give up on her.

Unknown said...

Hi Kathy, I've accidently bought 3 featherweights, so I know how you feel. They are work horses. One of the 3 came to me "broken", but unlike you I can't work on them myself. $70 later, the local sewing machine repair shop had her working. She goes to all my classes, retreats, and camping with me. You have found a gem, and I'm sure you can get her working. Good luck!

Kristin said...

Wow! Lucky duck! Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket?